(The Center Square) – “Vote No April 21” signs lined a Fredericksburg roadway Saturday as voters gathered to oppose a proposed redistricting amendment while early voting is already underway in Virginia.
The amendment would allow the General Assembly to redraw congressional districts before the next census under certain conditions. A “no” vote would keep the current system in place, which was created in 2020 through a voter-approved bipartisan redistricting commission.
The referendum comes as Virginia weighs whether to maintain that system or allow lawmakers to step back into the process sooner than expected. Supporters of the amendment say it would give the state flexibility if other states redraw their maps mid-decade, while opponents argue it could reintroduce political influence into mapmaking.
Saturday’s rally drew attendees from across the commonwealth, including Culpeper, Stafford and Prince William County, with organizers focusing on turnout ahead of the April 21 special election.
Rachel Macy, vice chair of the Fredericksburg Area Young Republicans, speaking alongside Chairman Brett Pritchett, told The Center Square the goal of the event was to encourage participation and raise awareness about the referendum.
“We’re getting young folks out, they’re getting involved in the process, making sure they know they can make a big impact on the community and help not to disenfranchise other Virginians,” Pritchett told The Center Square.
“No matter what is going on in the rest of the country, we deserve a vote. We deserve a voice, just as much as anyone else,” Pritchett said.
He added, “That’s the big goal here, to make sure that we have a voice in Washington as Virginians.”
Macy said the current congressional maps, created through the bipartisan commission approved by voters in 2020, are fair and should remain in place. She said the push to redraw districts mid-decade is driven more by politics than by what benefits the state and argued the proposed maps would not proportionally represent Virginians.
Pritchett said the group’s “fight corruption” message reflects concerns about how the process is unfolding.
“Fight corruption means we’re not going to take away the votes or voices of Virginians so they have representation in Washington,” he told The Center Square.
Christine Dunn, a Culpeper resident who attended the rally, told The Center Square she came out because she believes gerrymandering undermines fair elections.
“I’m a firm believer in representative democracy,” Dunn told The Center Square. “People need to have fair, competitive elections so elected leaders are forced to argue and defend their positions.”
She said the issue carries broader implications beyond politics and would shift power away from voters.
“To me, it’s life or death for our republican form of government,” Dunn said. “It allows politicians to decide who their voters are going to be, instead of voters deciding who their politicians are going to be.”
She added that rural voters could lose representation under the proposed changes and encouraged undecided voters to research the issue before casting a ballot.
“The people in rural areas deserve their voices to be heard in Congress, and with this gerrymander that will not happen,” Dunn said.
“Don’t follow a party. Look into it,” she added. “This is a serious issue about what kind of country we want to live in.”
Early voting began March 6 and will continue through April 18, with Election Day set for April 21.
